Brilliant Dad Feature Week 114 

This week our brilliant dad feature is Chris who is a dad blogger at Twin Daddyo. He is originally from Sothern California. Chris now lives in London with his wife and three year old girl/boy twins. In his spare time, he plays ice hockey, enjoys a round of golf, but never shies away from a DIY project or a good craft beer. Thank you to Chris for taking part.

1. Have you always wanted to be a dad? 

This is a slightly strange one for me, as I always wanted to be a Dad, but I didn’t always want kids. I don’t think it was until I met my wife that I realised that being with the perfect person made me want to have kids. Now, I can’t imagine not being a Dad, even when they’re being a pain.

2. How did you feel when your children were born?

Lucky. Having twins and the whole lead up and after twin births can be really challenging. We were lucky. They were healthy, went to full term and didn’t need any intensive care.

3. What have been your most rewarding experiences been so far? 

Seeing them enjoy things because they want to not and not because we’re trying to make them. For instance, my daughter has always liked sitting with me to watch football on the weekends. She picks which team to support (always Manchester United) and knows what is going on for the most part.
The other most rewarding thing has been to see how strong and resilient they are. Being our first children, I like most first time parents have found myself thinking they couldn’t do or handle something, only for them to do it and be an absolute rock star in handling it. It regularly surprises and amazes me!

4. What are some of funniest moments to have happened to you as a dad?

In the last year, as the kids have developed stronger communication skills and self-awareness, it is quite common that one of them will say or do something funny, only for the other one and typically us to start laughing. One will then state ‘I’ve got the giggles’ and we all continue to laugh for several minutes. This is the best, absolutely love it.

5. Have there been any situations with your children that you found difficult to cope with?

Yes, as with twins, they tend to be both happy together and upset together. The worst and most challenging for me is when mass hysteria hits and spreads to both of them. This could be because TV time is over and they want it to continue, this then drives one being irrationally upset to both being irrationally upset. Nothing can happen until they’re both calmed and settled. If this happens after a long day at work or when we’re short on time for something, it is really difficult to cope. Fortunately, my wife and I have a really good partnership and the other is great at stepping in to help diffuse the situation.

6. What are your dreams and hopes for your children?

I really want them to have the world as their options. Being American and my wife British, it was important to us that they have dual citizenship. We feel this gives them even more choices later in life, whether it be going to university in one country or the other, live and work in a different country and at minimum, just be able to easily travel and see different parts of the world. I think them getting to see different places, experience different cultures and be able to form their own opinions is immensely valuable and one of the best things I could give to the kids.